Environmental groups back in court over pesticide banned in Norway but permitted in Canada

Montreal – The federal government is unlawfully shielding from review pest control products containing a pesticide banned in Norway, environmental groups say.

The government cancelled plans to carry out a mandatory special review of products containing the pesticide difenoconazole after Syngenta, the company that manufacturers these products, asked the PMRA to terminate the review. A fungicide, difenoconazole is used in several neonicotinoid products that are toxic to bees.

“When a pesticide used to grow food is deemed harmful enough to be banned in another country, how can Canada still approve it for use within our borders?” asked Sidney Ribaux of Équiterre. “Canadians expect our government to step up and protect its citizens and the environment from dangerous substances like difenoconazole.”

Under the Pest Control Products Act, when another Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development member country bans an active pesticide ingredient for health or environmental reasons, the Minister of Health is required to initiate a special review of all registered pest control products containing that active ingredient. The Minister must then examine the reasons for the ban and decide whether to continue approving the products for use in Canada.

Last year, in response to a lawsuit filed by Ecojustice lawyers on behalf of Équiterre and the David Suzuki Foundation, the federal government agreed to review the approval of 383 pesticide products containing 23 active ingredients — including difenoconazole — already banned for use in European countries. Many of them have links to cancer and water contamination.

The federal government has since decided that it will not review registered pest control products containing difenoconazole, although it has been prohibited for all uses in Norway since 1998 due to its persistence in soil and water and toxic effects on aquatic organisms. The groups assert this decision is unlawful.

“Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency refuses to move forward with this mandatory review, and as a result we are reactivating our lawsuit,” said Lara Tessaro, Ecojustice staff lawyer. “At a time where public concern for pollinator health is at an all-time high, the agency appears to be unlawfully shielding from review toxic pesticide products that are harmful to bees.”

“The regulation of pesticides in Canada should be on par with leading international standards,” said Lisa Gue, senior researcher and analyst with the David Suzuki Foundation. “The health of Canadians and our environment should be the government’s top priority.”

One Comment

Who the heck cares about what is going on in Norway ?!?! Ecojustice is exploiting a non-issue in an insignificant country. Pesticide-Hating Fanatics at Ecojustice are WRONG ! There is NO mounting scientific evidence linking the use of neonicotinoid insecticides and so-called bee colony collapse disorder. WRETCHED-ECOJUSTICE LIES and LIES and LIES and LIES. It NEVER STOPS LYING. Prohibition against neonicotinoid insecticides will NOT resolve so-called bee colony collapse disorder, and will NOT help bee-keepers with their pest problems. There is NO bee crisis in Canada. According to Statistics Canada, there is NO bee crisis since the number of honey bee colonies are UP, and NOT DOWN, in the province of Ontario and across Canada. http://wp.me/p1jq40-7sq There is NO bee crisis in Canada, since Canada’s honey yield is twice the world’s average, according to Agriculture Canada. http://wp.me/s1jq40-28297 Canadian Honey Council actively opposes prohibition against neonicotinoid insecticides, arguing that, with prohibition, the destruction of the agriculture industry would be extensive, and that even if prohibition were imposed, there would be NO notable change in any bee losses. http://wp.me/p1jq40-7sq Canadian Honey Council is the trade association that represents ALL bee-keepers across the nation. And, there is NO bee crisis in Ontario, since large bee losses are NOT occurring uniformly across Ontario, according to Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne. http://wp.me/p1jq40-7Mw There is NO bee crisis in Canada, since only a very limited number of bee-keepers have reported losses due to so-called bee-colony collapse disorder, less than 1.0 per cent, according to Health Canada. http://wp.me/P1jq40-2BA There is NO bee crisis since science and statistics do NOT support demands to prohibit against neonicotinoid insecticides in the agriculture industry. If we had less conventional neonicotinoid use in the environment, we would still have bee colony collapse disorder, because many bee-keepers are NOT competent to manage their hives. Prohibition will NOT save bees. http://tinyurl.com/pxqzh6m ECOJUSTICE IS SPREADING MERE ANTI-PESTICIDE PROPAGANDA ! EVERYONE MUST STOP LISTENING TO ITS WRETCHED ENVIRONMENTALIST DRIVEL ! Those fanatics who operate Ecojustice are NOT our friends, they are our ENEMIES ! Ecojustice is listed among the nation’s prominent anti-pesticide & environmental-terrorist organizations. http://wp.me/P1jq40-48S ECOJUSTICE CANNOT BE TRUSTED ! For the whole truth regarding BEES, go to The Pesticide Truths Web-Site … http://wp.me/p1jq40-6WJhttp://wp.me/P1jq40-2BAhttp://wp.me/p1jq40-6H8http://wp.me/p1jq40-7ty For the WHOLE TRUTH about WRETCHED-ECOJUSTICE, go to The Pesticide Truths Web-Site … http://wp.me/P1jq40-4C1 We are the National Organization Responding Against HUJE that conspire to destroy the Green space and other industries ( NORAH G ). As a non-profit and independent organization, we are dedicated to reporting about PESTICIDE-HATING FANATICS, as well as the work of RESPECTED and HIGHLY RATED EXPERTS who promote ENVIRONMENTAL REALISM and PESTICIDE TRUTHS. http://wp.me/p1jq40-8DV Get the latest details at http://pesticidetruths.com/http://pesticidetruths.com/toc/http://wp.me/P1jq40-2rrhttps://www.facebook.com/norah.gfon WILLIAM H GATHERCOLE AND NORAH G